By Paul Newman
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Ravi Bopara may have called time on his own troubled Test career when he pulled out of the showdown against South Africa for ?personal reasons?, leaving England ready to throw James Taylor into the deep end at Headingley.
The problem No 6 position claimed another victim in the most surprising way when England named a 13-man squad for Thursday?s second Test without the man who had been given this clash of the Test giants to prove he belongs at the highest level.
The exact circumstances behind the withdrawal of Bopara, who was out twice to soft dismissals in the first Test humiliation, remain unclear but it is said he has asked to spend time away from cricket because of problems at home.
Stepping up: James Taylor is in line to make his Test debut for England
While it would be wrong to condemn Bopara ? who has so far been unable to establish himself in Test cricket in five different attempts ? over a private matter, his shock move will not sit well with England unless there are very good? reasons for it.
So late did Bopara inform the selectors of his absence that the original second Test squad had been drawn up with his name on it, and the last-minute switch will have exasperated team director Andy Flower, who has been frustrated by Bopara in the past.
The curse of six
England have struggled to find the right man to bat at No 6 since Paul Collingwood quit in 2011.
Eoin Morgan
Nightmare against Pakistan, top score of 31 in six innings.
Jonny Bairstow
Top score of 18 in three Tests against West Indies.
Ravi Bopara
Exiled himself after two soft dismissals against South Africa.
The Essex man injured himself while bowling ahead of the series against West Indies after he had been expressly told by England to be cautious with the ball, while lingering doubts about his temperament were hardly eased by the manner of his double capitulation at? The Kia Oval.
If Bopara, contrastingly excellent in one-day cricket, had already been drinking at the last chance Test saloon then he may now have to wait a long time before he gets another sip, if at all.
He has always given the impression of being a laid-back character but anxiety over proving his worth has never been far from the surface.
England, having seen Eoin Morgan, Jonny Bairstow and now Bopara succumb to the No 6 jinx this year, have turned to a batsman who has long seemed destined for a Test career, even though he has had to wait for his big chance.
Testing times: Ravi Bopara struggled against South Africa
Taylor, at 5ft 5in the shortest man in English cricket, will make his debut in a must-win Test against the formidable South Africa attack as long? as England stick to their tried and tested formula of fielding six batsmen and four specialist bowlers.
The 22-year-old moved from Leicestershire to Nottinghamshire at the start of this season to try to prove his readiness for the big stage but, until Saturday?s century against Sussex, he had enjoyed only modest returns in the County Championship First Division. What Taylor does appear to have is an ability to thrive when it most matters.
He has shown that with an outstanding record in 10? first-class games with the Lions and when he smashed a century of rare innovation and imagination for Nottinghamshire in front of the Sky TV cameras against Hampshire earlier this season.
ENGLAND SQUAD
AJ Strauss (Middlesex, captain), JM Anderson (Lancashire), IR Bell (Warwickshire), TT Bresnan (Yorkshire), SCJ Broad (Nottinghamshire), AN Cook (Essex) ST Finn (Middlesex), G Onions (Durham), KP Pietersen (Surrey), MJ Prior (Sussex, wicketkeeper), GP Swann (Nottinghamshire), JWA Taylor (Nottinghamshire), IJL Trott (Warwickshire).
Taylor will need to be wary of his penchant for the leg side? ? which may leave him vulnerable to lbws against the? quality of Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Vernon Philander ? and a perceived susceptibility to the short ball.
Mind you, it does not have to be that short to appear back of a length to jockey?s son Taylor, who will cut a contrasting figure to the 6ft 6in Morkel when they do battle.
His inclusion will increase the chances of Tim Bresnan retaining his place in an unchanged attack, even though they could take only two wickets at The Oval in 189 overs, as England will be reluctant to forsake the Yorkshireman?s ability if they have a debutant at No 6.
But this could yet prove to be the cue for England to change an established formula and repeat their one-day policy of this season in picking five specialist bowlers. That would mean Matt Prior? batting at No 6 and Taylor missing out for now.
Steven Finn and Graham Onions took wickets in Durham?s championship victory over Middlesex and both would relish the chance of? joining Jimmy Anderson,? Stuart Broad, Bresnan and Graeme Swann in an attack that will be under pressure to deliver in Leeds.
Sadly, Bopara will not have the chance to join them in trying to put right the wrongs of The Oval. It may prove a long way back for him now.
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